U14 Boys' Cricket Team crowned County Cup Champions

Congratulations to the U14 Boys' Cricket team were crowned County Cup Champions this week. Captain Freddie O (Ch, III) reflects on their journey to success. 

On the 18^th May, we started our U14 county cup journey.  The players were ready to go and looking excited to start the cricket season after spending the winter in the cricket centre working on their technique.  

Our first game was against Ellesmere College and a few players really took the opportunity to shine. Fortunately, I had the chance to open the batting and together with Jared S (Rt, III) we scored 82 between us.  59* for myself and 23 in quick succession from Jared.  With 129 on the board after 20 overs, it was now our time to bowl.  With the new ball in hand, we managed to bowl them out in 19 overs for 69.  Ollie P (Rb, III) 4 for 6 after 4 overs and Isaac E (Rb, III) 3 for 1 in his first over.  After coming out of our first county cup game with a win, the players were very confident heading into the next game.

After having a ‘bye’ in the quarter finals, Thomas Adams School pulled out of the semis, meaning we were in the finals.  The final was held against Wrekin at Shrewsbury on 28^th June.  With a few players coming out of recent matches with multiple fifties to their name and our seamers bowling well in recent matches against Wellington and Malvern, I would like to say, we were well-prepared.  We won the toss and chose to bat.  Harrison V (Rb, III) and I got the team off to a brilliant start with 76 runs after just 8 overs.  After two quick wickets, George B (O, III) and Jared S needed to carry on with the start we had built.  Jared did this exactly! After hitting balls onto Chances, Jared got his 50.  He carried on, meaning the team got over 250 after 22 overs and he brought up his 100 off just 57 balls.  With the help of George, the team got 272 after 25 overs.  Jared S, retiring on 107 and George B finishing on 53.  After a long few hours in the field, Wrekin needed to bat well.  Our opening bowling was brilliant.  After the first 10 overs, they were 5 down, still needing 228 to win.  In the end, we bowled the opposition out for 66 after 15 overs.  Isaac S (SH, III) 2 wickets, Isaac E 2 wickets, Ollie P 3 wickets and valuable contributions from all the other bowlers.

After winning the County Cup finals and receiving our trophy, it is safe to say our season ended very well.  There may have been a few games which were narrowly lost this year, but overall the team are happy and are looking forward to the U15 season in which, due to our cup victory, we qualify for the National U15 Cup Competition.  To take part in the ‘Taverners’ next year is a great success.  But this couldn’t have been achieved without the efforts of the coaches and support staff that helped us prepare for the matches and prepared the pitches.